White House says Trump not advocating for government shutdown

World

Tuesday 6 February 2018 - 11:24pm

A Senate staffer places a sign blaming U.S. President Donald Trump for shutdown of the Federal Government before a news conference with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2018.
Photo: Reuters/Joshua Roberts

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is not advocating for a government shutdown, a White House spokeswoman said on Tuesday, after he said earlier he would welcome a federal government shutdown if Congress is unable to agree to changes in immigration law.

"We are not advocating for the shutdown, that's the fault of the Democrats not doing their job. The president wants a long-term deal and he wants a deal on immigration and we hope that Democrats will come to the table and get those things done," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a regular press briefing.